XMAS BY POST; Range inc. 1834 EL to London ex Norwich with a London Crown Free mark on front and contents ref. acquisition of a xmas gift for a 14 year old girl, c1870 British unaddressed printed 'THE POSTMAN'S/RESPECTFUL/COMPLIMENTS/OF THE/SEASON.' card, c1880 mock GB ½d PC with mock duplex cancel with cat motif on front and with printed 'Accept my hearty wishes for a/Happy Christmas', 1906 Children's Xmas Benefit concert program, range of WWII Military Xmas aerogrammes/lettersheets and a range of clippings from 19th century newspapers/journals much with a Xmas theme. (small qty) Cross Reference: XMAS CARDS, FREE MAIL, GREAT BRITAIN (Image)

THE VERY RARE FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD: An example of the first Christmas Card (130 x 82 mm) in exceptional unused condition. About a dozen examples of this card are recorded; the overwhelming majority of which are used. A true classic of Victorian design and innovation. HISTORICAL NOTE: The credit for designing the first Christmas card is given to John Callcott Horsely R.A. He was a well known painter who in December 1843 at the request of his friend Sir Henry Cole (founding director of the V & A) carried out the design work. At Christmas time Sir Henry - as was the custom among his peers would hand write greetings and best wishes to his family, friends and business acquaintances (the origin of the Christmas letter). But with all his ventures, Cole had little time to inscribe countless personal Christmas greetings and so came up with the idea of a special printed Christmas greetings card. The first edition of cards were lithographed and hand coloured showing a family party with the legend "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". they were printed by Jobbins of Warwick Court, London, each was hand coloured by a professional "Colourer" named Mason. The card also states that it was "Published at Summerly's Home Treasury Office, 12 Old Bond Street, London who sold surplus cards from the from the print run of 1,000 at 1/- each. The central panel shows a family enjoying a Christmas feast as they all toast their absent friend (the addressee) during the festive season, with panels on either side depicting the charitable acts of "feeding the hungry" and "clothing the poor". The central panel caused such a stir with the anti-drinking lobby that it was quickly withdrawn. A used example sold in our June 2003 sale for £5500 and another, also used, in a London auction of 18.6.2009 for £7500. This example is signed by Arthur Blair on the rear in pencil author of Christmas Cards for the Collector (1986) and is a believed to have been in his private collection after he discovered them in the post WWII period in a London antique shop. Our vendor subsequently found them apparently undescribed in a lot at a Phillips auction in London many years ago. Also the 1884 Reproduction of the same card used. (2 cards) Cross Reference: XMAS CARDS, PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)

VICTORIAN XMAS CARDS; Extensive & diverse range mostly on annotated leaves inc. 1848 Egley printed B&W design (World's 2nd Xmas card), c1868 rollerskating children design by Benjamin Sulman, 1877 gold-leaf printed design featuring fruit, flowers & child bearing a Union Jack published by Joseph Mansell, 1883 White Stokes & Allen Santa Claus silk fringed card, 1890 set of three Angelic cards produced by Hildeshmeir & Faulkner, c1900 Ernest Nister & Co printed type depicting children singing Xmas carols, range on ornamental, paper-lace & applique types one depicting a Xmas pudding with opening revealing a bird & nest, a few with paper string moving parts, Circular & shaped types - one in the form of a phonographic record that plays a Xmas message from Christopher Stone, padded silk types with floral bouquets and many others. Remarkable assembly. (c100) Cross Reference: CHRISTMAS/RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS, XMAS CARDS (Image)

VICTORIAN & EARLY 20TH CENTURY XMAS CARDS; Extensive & diverse range mostly on annotated leaves inc. 1878 Marcus Ward (Belfast) label from a pack of 12 cards and similar Xmas present tags produced by Raphael Tuck (London), 1880 William Luks (London) photographic types, 1910 solid Brass 'card' on mounted velvet backing with hanging ribbon at top, 1909 dated hand-painted type depicting two cats embracing under the mistletoe, 1917 privately printed type for & signed by Lord Baden-Powell, printed animal designs by Hildesheimer & Faulkner & DLR (London) range on ornamental paper, gold-leaf decoration, paper & textile applique, heavy-card panel types, Wisette design, patented by JFB (London) many others. Remarkable assembly. (c100) Cross Reference: XMAS CARDS, ROYALTY, CHRISTMAS/RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS, BOY SCOUTS (Image)

VICTORIAN XMAS GREETINGS CARDS BY POST; Small group with 24 Dec. 1877 local large env. to Birmingham franked 1d Red containing hand-drawn Xmas card, 1878/97 envs. to Portsmouth, Wolverhampton or London franked 1d Red (uncancelled) or 1d Lilac containing printed Xmas card. (8 items) Cross Reference: GREAT BRITAIN, XMAS CARDS, WARWICKSHIRE - BIRMINGHAM (Image)

GB 1d LILAC FRANKINGS ON XMAS MAIL; Pair with 25 Dec. 1886 red env. & matched letter expressing Xmas greetings from a child to their aunt franked 1d Lilac and tied by Ayr duplex and 24 Dec. 1886 Parcel tag to East Grinstead franked 1d Lilac tied by Shaftesbury duplex with message Times are hard, stationery rare.....(2 items) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, XMAS CARDS, PARCEL POST COVERS/LABELS (Image)

LONDON GPO XMAS & NEW YEAR GREETING CARDS; Pair with 1890 Penny Postage Jubilee Xmas and New Year's greetings, 1890/91 large format card unused and 1891/92 card of the same nature with a different design depicting major events of the year inc. London-Paris telephone line and Australia joining the UPU etc. (2 cards) Cross Reference: GREAT BRITAIN, EXHIBITION & SHOW CANCELLATIONS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, XMAS CARDS (Image)

VICTORIAN & EARLY 20TH CENTURY XMAS CARDS; Extensive & diverse range mostly on annotated leaves inc. 1880s Marcus Ward Cinderella Xmas card, 1880s paper 'lace' gate-fold Christmas greeting card with ribbon lever revealing baby in manger with angels playing music, 1889 (dated on rear) Pillar Box card with two string levers revealing postcards and envelopes and a 20/- Postal Order inside, c1890 Xmas Card depicting a Royal Mail carriage & horse with card lever revealing carriage full of mail, 1893 and 1895 Liverpool Telegraph Office Xmas/New Year cards, 1896 Central London Telegraph Office Xmas/New Year card, c1910 Raphael Tuck (London) humourous cards entitled it Pudding it Nicely and A Dead Certainty for a Merry Season depicting a shooters catch, 1912 coloured PPC to Norwich to a child care of his parents and depicting a family around a Xmas tree plus an elaborate range of fold-out three-dimensional cards depicting biblical scenes, flowers, floral bouquets birds, children, tinsel decorated etc., a New Year Calender for 1901 etc., and a small range of Valentine types. Another delightful assembly. (c70 items) Cross Reference: TELEGRAPHS, VALENTINES/GREETINGS CARDS (Image)

POSTMASTER/POST OFFICE PRINTED XMAS GREETINGS; Trio with 1893 large format printed card 'OF THE CITY OF GLOUCESTER', 1893 large-format Greeting from 'Savings Bank Department/LONDON' with printed 'To' and 'From' spaces and an 1896 similar example of the previous depicting QV in her 60th Year of Reign. (3 cards) Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, XMAS CARDS (Image)

CONTEMPORARY HARDBOUND ALBUM with card pages used as a scrapbook (some defects) and filled with mostly fine c1900 Xmas (some New Year, Valentine & Easter) cards inc. gatefold, tinselled and 'lace' types and range of gummed paper motifs of birds, children, flowers, butterflies, cats, dogs, dolls, cherubs, angels, etc. Authentic keepsake. Cross Reference: ART AND ARTISTS, CHRISTMAS/RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS (Image)